Officer numbers maintained with help from volunteers in Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner's plans

Volunteer Police Community Support Officers (VPCSOs) could be introduced in Lincolnshire as part of the new police and crime plan for the county.

Lincolnshire's Police and Crime Commissioner, Alan Hardwick has published his proposed plans which include the recruitment of 1,000 VCPCOs to work alongside employed officers and staff.

Alan Hardwick said: "This is part of a wider plan to offer more opportunities for the people of Lincolnshire to make a real contribution to the policing of our County."

Also outlined is that the number of police officers will be maintained at 1,100 which has resulted in the recruitment of 23 officers being brought forward.

To maintain visible police presence, in future, officers will wear their uniform when on duty and all police vehicles involved in front line policing will be clearly marked, unless there is an operational reason not to.

In order to avoid the closure of police stations the possibility is being explored of shared usage with the local community.

Street drinking was also targeted in the plan with a commitment made to zero tolerance of unlawful and nuisance street drinking.

Mr Hardwick said: "In summary, I believe I have a plan that will see crime reduce, deliver a fair deal for the people of Lincolnshire and provide police and services that are there when you need them.

"I can achieve all this against a background of continuing Government austerity because I have carried out a thorough and far reaching review of expenditure that has involved every aspect of the way in which we police the County.

"Savings have been identified that I am confident will enable the entirety of my plan to be implemented effectively and also mean that I can set a budget and precept within Government parameters."

The Police and Crime Commissioner also stressed that the views of the public would be valued and can be submitted by email Lincolnshire-pcc@lincs.pnn.police.uk or by letter sent to Police Headquarters by January 28.

Comments

Our Police Force has always relied on well trained hard working Officers who have been paid a wage commensurate to the dangers and stressful situations which such work entails. In a small part Special Constables have been called upon in a Voluntary capacity to help out when they have the time. What is being proposed by Mr. Hardwick is to demean our Force for the sake of budget cuts. No more volunteers please!

Any policing solution that relies on 50% voluntary input seems a little fragile to me. I wonder what the current number of volunteers used is, what % increase the extra 1000 represents, what the chances of recruiting, training and retaining them are and the part suitable and sufficent risk assessment played in the development of Mr Hardwick's strategy against the need for him to balance the books.
I seem to recall he began his election campaign with a visit to Downing Street to fight for a fair budget for Lincolnshire........ Seems to have quietly lost that battle and is now kow-towing by setting "a budget and precept within government parameters" after giving the electorate 'jam tomorrow' via a team of as yet unrecruited volunteers to clear the drunks from the streets!! Well done Mr Hardwick - you are clearly worth your weight in gold to the county of Lincolnshire.